Use of polymers as sliding mechanisms for laterally sliding door/windows

ABSTRACT

The invention pertains to the repair or manufacture of the sliding mechanism of horizontally/laterally sliding glass doors and windows that are permanently built into a residential or commercial building. Instead of the door/window riding on a metal track using a roller mechanism on a metal rail during the opening and closing process, the door/window rides on strips of either the same or different types of polymer, such as a high density polyethelyne plastic, for the same process. Where one strip is adhered to the current tracking system of the door/window and another adhered to the actual door/window. The polymers take the weight of the door/window and slide across each other using the polymers as the main sliding mechanism instead of the rail and roller mechanisms as currently supplied by most manufacturers.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to the repair or manufacture of the sliding process of horizontally sliding doors and windows, where the door/window slides on polymers as the main sliding mechanism versus a rail and roller mechanism as currently used.

PRIOR ART

[0002] Laterally sliding windows, including such windows as commonly referred to as sliding doors, are well known. To ease movement of sliding glass windows, wheeled rollers have been provided on the base of the window which roll on a thin vertical metal track.

[0003] The weight bearing metal tracking is usually made out of a softer metal such as aluminum. The roller mechanisms for sliding doors and windows tends to place the entire weight of the sliding door/window, which can be a relatively large load compared to the size of the track rail and rollers, on the relatively thin metal rail. Due to the softness of the aluminum, the metal rail on which the roller rides usually flattens out or wears down quickly causing either the tracking and/or rollers to wear out over time.

[0004] To replace those parts, normally a person would have to completely disassemble the door/window, cut out the worn tracking and replace the track if worn and/or replace the rollers then reassemble the door/window. This is not only very time consuming but can also be very costly.

[0005] Other inventions such as Roller for Sliding Windows and Doors U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,363, Prete issued Dec. 28, 1993, refers to a redesign of the rollers using belts instead of metal wheeled rollers which would require a redesign of the tracking system of the door/window.

[0006] Another invention Modular Sliding Door Rollers, U.S. Pat. No. 5, 950,279, Chaput, issued Sep. 14, 1999, refers to a redesign of rollers to carry the weight of a sliding glass door/window where the rollers are the main sliding mechanism.

[0007] However different the roller mechanisms are and where they ride, they are still just a redesign of the current system. Which over time, will inevitably wear out the track, rollers or both still causing potentially expensive and/or time consuming repairs by needing to take the entire door apart to replace the worn parts.

[0008] Most people think of metal being highly durable and plastic as being not very durable. By using a high density polymer such as polyethelyne plastic, the plastic is highly durable and has a low friction coefficient which makes the door/window slide easily.

[0009] There are no other inventions relating to using polymer(s) as the main sliding mechanism and no known device that is quick and easy to install for the average person, requires no special manufacturing or substantial changes to current parts already in manufacture and accomplishes the object of using polymers as the main sliding mechanism on a glass sliding door/window.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the invention are to use a polymer, such as a high density polyethelyne plastic, as the main sliding mechanism during the opening and closing of a structurally intact horizontally/laterally sliding door/window where the rail and roller mechanism are either partially or completely replaced and to have the door/window still slide relatively easy.

[0011] It is also the object of the invention to provide a simple, cost effective way to produce these results that does not require special manufacturing of the sliding door/windows or by substantially altering the manufacturers original designs.

[0012] Another object of the invention is to have the polymers easily and cost effectively replaced when worn, unlike the current roller and rail mechanism, where the door has to be completely disassembled to perform the necessary repairs.

[0013] Another object of the invention is to have the average person be able to attach the device to their sliding glass doors/windows without any special knowledge or special tools.

[0014] Another advantage to the invention is that the door/window slides quietly unlike sliding door/windows with metal rollers on metal tracking.

[0015] Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a side view of a glass sliding door/window showing the placement of the polymers.

[0017]FIG. 2 is an end view of a door/window and its track showing the alignment of the polymers.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0018] FIG. Description 10 glass sliding door/window 11 door/window track 12 corner bracket 13 shim 14 screws 15 plastic tracking strip 16 current vertical rail mechanism 17 notch running length of door/window containing rollers

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0019] By using polymers on the corners of doors/windows and having those polymers come in contact with the polymers adheared to the tracking, doors/windows slide relatively easily without time consuming and/or costly replacement of existing parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and hereinafter describe in detail, a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principals of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspects if the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

[0021]FIG. 1 is an overall drawing of a preferred embodiment of this invention. This figure shows where a flat polymer, such as a high density polyethelyne plastic, is laid flat on a door/window track (11), and adhered with screws (14), being used as a plastic tracking strip (15). The plastic tracking strip (15) runs the entire length of the track. Another of the same or different type of flat plastic polymer and bent in a 90 degree angle in the middle is called a corner bracket (12). The corner bracket (12) is attached to the bottom and on both ends of a door/window (10). One portion of the corner bracket (12) being horizontal and the other portion being vertical partially going up the side of a door/window (10). The vertical portion of the corner bracket (12) is then adhered to the side of the door/window (10) using a screw (14). A shim (13) can be adhered on the horizontal portion of one or both of the corner brackets (12) for adjustment.

[0022]FIG. 2 refers to the specific placement of parts and alignment of those parts on both a glass sliding door/window (10) and its tracking system (11). A plastic tracking strip (15) is placed and adhered using screws (14), on one or both sides of a vertical rail mechanism (16) on which the rollers of a door/window currently rides. A corner bracket (12) is adhered on one or both sides of a notch running the length of the door/window containing the rollers (17) and are adhered to the door using screws (14), so that the corner bracket (12) aligns over the plastic tracking strip (15).

OPERATION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The invention operates by taking the weight of the average glass sliding door/window off of the current track and roller system, and transferring the weight over to the polymers that make up the corner brackets (12) and plastic tracking strip (15). The polymers have a low friction coefficient that makes the opening and closing of glass sliding doors/windows relatively easy.

[0024] Shims (13) made up of the same or different material are adhered on top of the horizontal portion of the corner brackets (12), for adjustment of the door/window (10) with the stationary frame of the door/window. Shims are also used to ensure the horizontal portion of the corner brackets (12) comes in constant contact with the plastic tracking strip (15) that runs the entire length of the door/window track (11). Multipule shims may be necessary for proper adjustment.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Thus the reader will see that, by using polymers as the main weight bearing and sliding mechanism for glass sliding door/windows, the invention provides a highly reliable, easily installed, economically repairable device that most any person can install or repair themselves.

[0026] While my above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of my invention, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof. Many other variations are possible.

[0027] For example, instead of using screws for adhearing the polymers to the metal; glue, double sided tape or another type of adheasive may be used.

[0028] Another example would be to have the polymers attached to the door/window and run the entire length of the door/window versus using the smaller corner brackets on the corners of the door/window.

[0029] A third example would be to put the polymers on both sides of the rail the rollers ride on and have a split on the horizontal portion of the corner bracket. The corner bracket would then straddle the rail that the rollers ride with the horizontal portions still supporting the weight of the door/window.

[0030] A fourth example would be to slightly change the manufacturing of the current designs of the doors/windows and their respective tracking. The tracking could be changed so that a polymer is built into/onto the track and made so that it is easily replacable when worn. The doors/windows could be made so that the polymer is built into a special groove or notch in the door/window where the polymer is also easily adjustable and easily replaceable when worn.

[0031] Although a preferred form of my invention for a sliding door/window and its sliding system has been shown and described herein, it should be understood that the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims and a reasonable equivalency thereof, which subject matter I regard as my invention. 

I claim: 1) Use of polymers with a low friction coefficient as main weight bearing and sliding mechanisms for a laterally sliding door/window comprising: a) a flat polymer, having a predetermined thickness and width, attached to the entire length of a track of a sliding door/window, and b) a polymer, having a predetermined length, thickness and width and having a 90 degree angle, attached to a door/window by the vertical portion of the 90 degree angle with the horizontal portion placed under the bottom of said sliding door/window, and c) aligned over said polymer attached to the track of a door/window so the polymers come in constant contact with each other whereby the weight of said door/window is substantially transfered onto said polymers for the means of relative ease of sliding during the opening and closing process. 